Elden Ring, the critically acclaimed action-RPG from FromSoftware, made waves at launch in 2022 and continues to do so in 2025. With the release of the long-awaited expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, console players on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S are now stepping into a vast new region, brimming with lore, lethal enemies, and technical enhancements that bring the haunting world of the Lands Between to new heights.
This isn’t just DLC—it’s a full-fledged update that pushes the boundaries of what console hardware can deliver in a dark fantasy RPG.
A New Realm: The Land of Shadow
Shadow of the Erdtree opens up an entirely new region known as the Land of Shadow—an interconnected, semi-open world area roughly 60% the size of the original map. The transition from the core world to this new zone is seamless, with no loading screens interrupting exploration.
FromSoftware has leaned into more vertical level design and environmental storytelling in this update. For example, players may find themselves descending into fog-covered catacombs with deadly architecture, or scaling decayed divine towers that scrape the clouds.
Console performance in this new region has been a major focus, with both PS5 and Xbox Series X|S running the expansion at 60 FPS in performance mode. Graphics mode prioritizes 4K visuals, with stunning lighting, denser particle effects, and more reactive foliage physics than seen in the base game.
Enhanced Combat Mechanics and New Build Paths
The expansion introduces five new weapon types, all with unique move sets, Ashes of War, and combo potential. Notable additions include:
- Phantom Reapers – dual-bladed sickles that extend with ghostly energy for wide-area crowd control.
- Gravemark Hammers – blunt weapons with rock-shattering impact, ideal for stagger-heavy builds.
- Whispering Bows – long-range weapons that emit cursed whispers, dealing mental and spirit-based damage.
Magic users are treated to 15+ new sorceries and incantations, including gravity wells that trap enemies and soul flames that linger and track targets over time. These new options allow for even more diverse builds, and console players can easily experiment thanks to improved quick-swap menus and character profile saves.
Boss Design and AI Enhancements
As expected, Shadow of the Erdtree introduces some of the most punishing and imaginative bosses in FromSoftware’s history. The AI in this expansion has been noticeably refined to account for player patterns and exploit poor spacing.
Notable bosses like “Vael, Bringer of Soot” and “The Hollow Womb” use arena-specific tactics, multi-stage fights, and environment manipulation. Console players benefit from enhanced loading speeds, meaning retries are swift, and performance dips are almost nonexistent even in high particle-count encounters.